No tax increase in proposed 2014 Ogdensburg budget

OGDENSBURG  No property tax increase is anywhere to be found in the proposed 2014 city budget.

City Manager John M. Pinkerton released Friday a tentative $19,102,179 spending plan, $443,270 or 2.3 percent less than this years $19,545,449 budget.

The tax rate would stay at this years rate of $16.73 per $1,000 of assessed valuation. The stability is thanks to St. Lawrence Countys recent decision to increase its sales tax from 3 percent to 4 percent effective in December .

The reason we have a budget that doesnt reflect an increase is strictly attributed to a one percent sales tax increase, Mr. Pinkerton said in his budget message.

The budget decrease is due in part to the Ogdensburg Growth Fund Development Corp. having its own budget separate from the citys.

The proposed budgets general fund would increase 2.5 percent from $11,858,577 to $12,156,911.

The city anticipates collecting $3,251,216 in sales taxes in 2014, an increase of about $500,000 over this years $2,705,000 total.

n Employee health care costs for 2014 are projected at $2.8 million, up from this years $2.6 million. Mr. Pinkerton predicts a $4 million annual bill in a decade.

n The citys 2014 tax roll is $272,277,781, down $2.9 million from this years $275,265,039.

n There will be no change in the water rates, which will remain at $276 flat and $3.40 per 1,000 gallons.

n Sewer rates will increase 16 percent, from $316 to $368 flat and from $4.84 to $5.62 per 1,000 gallons metered. Mr. Pinkerton said the hike is necessary to cover the estimated $250,000 state-ordered cost of drainage improvements to the citys wastewater treatment plant by 2014 and the installation of a $4.5 million, 800,000-gallon storm water retaining tank by 2020.

Deputy Mayor Michael D. Morley said it was a poor idea to raise sewer rates to cover the cost of capital projects.

Thats craziness, he said. Thats something that you bond for.

Councilor Wayne L. Ashley agreed, although he called the proposed stable tax rate great news. But he wants the parks and recreation budget to include programs for senior citizens as well as youths.

A few Saturday night dances would be nice, he said.

I see nothing in there, Mr. Ashley said. We have a lot of senior citizens.

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